ARLINGTON, Texas – Micah Parsons got one thing he wanted in his return to AT&T Stadium: a sack against his former quarterback, Dak Prescott. But after the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys played to a 40-40 tie on Sunday night, the star defensive end was left unsatisfied.
“I’m not even going to lie, I’m pissed off,” Parsons said postgame. “I’m very disappointed, just overall how we performed.”
Parsons’ frustration wasn’t aimed at the offense. He praised quarterback Jordan Love, who threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns, and admitted the defense had failed to meet expectations.
“I even told Jordan to the side, ‘Thank you for having our back today,'” Parsons said. “Jordan played like the player he was, and we let him down.”
The matchup carried added drama. Parsons faced his former team less than a month after being traded from Dallas following a contract dispute with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. He finished with four pressures, including a crucial overtime sack of Prescott that may have saved a touchdown.
The contest featured seven lead changes – the most ever in an NFL tie, according to ESPN Research. Prescott nearly matched Love’s numbers, throwing for 319 yards and three scores. Despite constant pressure, Prescott completed 10 of 13 passes for 121 yards when hurried.
“You look how precise No. 4 looked tonight,” Parsons said of Prescott. “I think he played a better game than we played defense. Shout-out to Dak … he played a hell of a game, and I give him kudos for that.”
Parsons downplayed any emotional return to Dallas, saying his feelings faded once the Cowboys traded him. He also revealed he has not spoken with Jones since the move, criticizing the owner for failing to personally inform him of the trade.
Jones, for his part, defended the lack of interaction before or during the game. “What are we supposed to do when we’re getting ready to play each other? That’s not appropriate,” he said.
Prescott noted that there was no trash talk between the two during the game, only respect afterward.
The Cowboys worked hard to limit Parsons’ impact, using tight ends, running backs, and extra protections. Coach Brian Schottenheimer praised the effort but acknowledged Parsons’ game-changing talent: “What a great player, man. I hope we see him again in January.”
Jones expressed no regret over the trade, even while acknowledging Parsons’ impact. “He made a difference. But that’s the way it goes. Whether we like it or not, I’ll take my side of it and Green Bay can have their side of it.